World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz reached the second round on his debut in Tokyo. The Spaniard bested Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 30 minutes after surviving a massive scare.
Carlos hurt his left leg while chasing a ball in the fifth game of the opening set, requiring a medical timeout that left fans holding their breath as he sat on the court with painful grimace.
Alcaraz returned to the court with a bandage and showed determination to continue despite obvious discomfort. However, the six-time Major winner regained his rhythm and brought the victory home in style.
The leg issue disrupted the El Palmar's momentum briefly, but Carlos responded like a true champion - with calmness and precision. Thus, he proved his ability to adapt under pressure, unwilling to surrender without giving everything.
Alcaraz raised his level as the match went on, serving well and keeping Baez at bay en route to the third victory over the Argentine from as many duels. However, the incident was a reminder of how quickly fortunes can chance, even for the leader of the pack.
Carlos admitted he had been concerned in the moment. Still, he emphasized that he would focus on recovery ahead of his next match in two days. With a win, the Spaniard extended his brilliant run since April.
He has played in eight straight ATP finals since Monte Carlo, hoping for another in the week when he defends 500 ATP points. Despite the setback, the 22-year-old remains on the course for another deep run.
He hopes to recover completely for his next duel and stay in the hunt for his eighth ATP title of the season.
"I'm not going to lie, I was scared. I was worried because at first, I did not feel well. I will try to recover because I do not think the next day and a half will be easy. I will do what's necessary to be able to compete," Carlos Alcaraz said.
